Category Archives: London Elections 2012

The recession will bite even deeper in London unless voters return Ken Livingstone as Mayor on May 3, according to the Communist Party in London.

The party is urging the left to unite again in support of the former mayor, warning that the future is bleak if Boris Johnston is returned to the post.

Steve Johnson, London District Secretary of the CP, says: “The election of Boris Johnson in 2008 has been a disaster for Londoners with his programme of budget cuts, underinvestment, above inflation fare rises and attacks on jobs and services.

“The cuts agenda being pursued by the Con-Dem government in Whitehall is being faithfully pursued from City Hall by Johnson and his administration. Threats to bus services, tube station ticket offices and the transport infrastructure project Crossrail are a warning of what Londoners can expect if Johnson wins another term in May.

“By contrast Ken Livingstone has adopted a principled opposition to the government’s austerity measures. He has also advanced progressive positions on many of the key strategic areas within the mayor’s remit: housing, public transport and the environment. The Communist Party particularly endorses his commitment to engage with transport workers on policy matters. We also welcome the commitment to job creation through major infrastructure projects.”

Communist Party activists are already focusing on building unity on the left in London to ensure the defeat of Boris Johnson’s administration. As well as campaigning for the election of Ken Livingstone as mayor, they want to see the election of a Labour majority in the Greater London Authority.

And Steve Johnson warns: “The battle against cuts and privatisation will need to continue after the election and we will also be calling on Labour candidates to reject the rule of the free market and to advance the interests of working people in London.

“To help meet this objective we will be producing an Alternative Economic strategy for London for debate amongst the wider labour movement.”